| |
| |
|
Meditation Information |
|
|
|
Understanding Meditation
Meditation has been around for many thousands of years. It is a technique geared towards inner discovery and enlightenment. Its' also used for deep relaxation, freedom from thoughts and inner peace. There are many forms and techniques of meditating, varying from silent motionless techniques to very vigorous physical ones. The Goals of Meditation Many people meditate for different reasons, thus achieving different goals. One of the most common reasons for meditation, is relaxation from peoples busy and stressful lifestyles. Stress! The culprit for many ailments and poor health is at an all time high in many a persons life. The combative results of meditation often brings much needed relieve like the rain falling upon a half thirsty tree to this problem. Other people meditate for deep spiritual reasons, such as to achieve enlightenment. Enlightenment in this case is to reach your true self, the self uncluttered with what we call the ego. Then others again meditate to develop better concentration and control of the mind (stilling their thoughts). The Benefits of Meditation Meditation relaxes the body almost to a sleep like restfulness, yet it's a hundred times better than sleep itself in terms of benefits. With continued meditation over time, you'll notice your memory increases. You'll be able to remember things with much better clarity and accuracy. Your concentration strengthens to the point where little to no distractions occur once your mind is engaged in a task. Slowly but surely, like a veil being removed from your eyes, you'll see things much clearer (be conscious of) and begin to live in the present with a renewed happiness. Serenity and deep relaxation marries itself to you as a season mediator. What this means is, over time, you'll be able to turn on the serenity feelings at will to some degree. Especially during stressful episodes in your life. Enlightenment There are many kinds of enlightenments, but for the subject of meditation, we'll stick to the relevant one. For many people, meditation is simply a means to relax and combat stress. In reality, meditation is much more than a stress buster. Other than the many benefits it rewards you with, it's ultimate gift is something that many spiritual teachers call enlightenment. The goal of enlightenment in meditation is to go beyond the ego. Ego! According to the dictionary is the self, the part of the mind that reacts to reality and has a sense of individuality. This description of the ego is exactly what enlightenment seeks to transcend and unveil as the totally false self. When a person is born, they eventually absorb various thoughts, ideas and beliefs from family and other people they come into contact with. As time goes on, they grow and these ideas, thoughts and beliefs become so ingrained within their mind, that they see them as an inseparable part of them self. Consider this! If you were to tell me who you were, you'd probably tell me: What your gender is, say what race you belong too, what kind of career/job you do, nationality, hobbies, your age, weight etc. Anything that you identify with, may be brought out to help explain your case of who you are. This is all well and good, but essentially, those things don't reflect your true self of who you really are. Meditation with the goal of enlightenment will transcend this usual state and place you in a state of consciousness where such identification is pointless. The true you is eternal and unchanging. All the former descriptions I just mentioned to you, are not permanent and subject to change at any given time. The enlightened state allows you witness your true self in an altered state of consciousness beyond the thoughts and attachments you grasp to help you identify who you are. In this altered state of consciousness, you see the eternalness of yourself and your true nature. You're on the outside looking in at the world as if it were a grand show or movie. In your ordinary state of consciousness, you'd be taking part as an actor or actress inside this movie (life). Playing whatever part your thoughts and ego wish you to play, but as your true self, you will be in the world (the movie) not of it. You are able to choose your interactions sensibly and avoid unnecessary suffering, pain and regret. You become aware of the limitations of your ordinary state as oppose to your enlightened state, where you rise above the rushing of your thoughts and emotions that change constantly. One minute you are happy, the next you are sad. In your altered state of consciousness, you exist as almost a pure state of consciousness that is untouched by the influences of random thought and emotions. All false identifications of yourself is observed and then tossed into nothingness until you need them again in your ordinary state of consciousness, but with one difference. You'll be able to always see them as false labels and not the real you. They will have their uses in the ordinary world, but they will no longer control or deceive you into believing this is who you are. Unfinished Symphony Meditation offers a sensible solution to health, personal and professional problems. It also provides a solution for peaceful enlightenment, if that's what you're after. There will come a time in your life, when the chorus of life starts sagging and prompts you to pick up your conductor's stick (meditation) and start correcting the insufferable songs, into a beautiful symphony that breathes life back into your soul. Gabriel Foster is the editor for http://www.gabrielfoster.com, the online magazine for both vegetarians and natural health enthusiasts.
MORE RESOURCES:
Meditation - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Secrets of Meditation For Better Health Meditation can improve your health, increase energy levels and maximize your enjoyment of life. Without a doubt, more people would benefit from meditation if they took the time to practice the simple exercises used to calm the mind, reduce stress and increase energy levels. How To Meditate Without Even Trying I remember when I started trying to meditate. I would sit down, close my eyes, and try to be really calm (my definition of meditation at the time). The Art Of Meditation: How Easy Is It? Meditation is a form of relaxing and a method to spiritual enlightenment that has been around for centuries. Yet with all the different types of meditation as well as the varied methods, how do you know you are truly meditating? Which one is right for you?We are often told that to meditate is to think of nothing and clear your mind, which to me is impossible. Cultivate a Positive Mind-Set Through Meditation You have the ability to create your own mind-set. Whether your attitude is positive or negative, is up to you. Yoga Meditation For Pain Relief The purpose of this article is to provide information on methods and techniques on how to cope with pain, or in some instances, possibly even overcoming pain with the use of techniques derived from Yoga meditation.Chronic pain sufferers spend millions of dollars to find ways of relieving their pain. Subconscious The subconscious is a scarey thing to comtemplate for some people. We have been taught that it is a dark place that keeps deep dark secrets about ourselves that could destroy our peace of mind at the very least, and our lives at the very worst. Mindfulness and Eating: Divine Desk Dining Are you stuck eating lunch at your desk again?Lucky you.You see, staying put can be surprisingly soothing compared to making a mad dash to the cafe for a sandwich and running back to your office, all the while worried that you'll miss an important call. Understanding Meditation It is impossible to overstate the importance of daily meditation. The benefits are enormous. Embrace Fear and Let Go Before I started meditating several years ago with CDs using audio technologies, I estimate I hadn't recalled much more than tiny snippets of a dream in, gosh, at least ten years and probably many more than that.One of the things I liked immediately when I began using meditation CDs was that I started sleeping as soundly as a puddle of snoozing cat and dreaming vividly and often. Objective Meditations: What is Reality? Is reality a projection from within the mind, or is it an "altered lens" into the outside world? Let's look at the altered lens theory first. Obviously, we are not all looking at the world with the same lens or viewpoint. Tips for Better Meditation Meditation students often come to me and ask what they can do to improve their meditation. Success in meditation is not the result of any one single factor but depends on sustained and systematic effort over a period of time. Quieting the Mind Opening the Heart To put it simply, the act of meditation involves quieting the mind so you can open the heart. That's it in a nutshell. Basic Meditation Exercises (Authors Note: Before reading this you should see my other articles on Breathing and Full Body Awareness)Now that you've begun to develop the ability to move energy around in your body there are some things that you can do with it. The following exercises range from pretty simple to pretty complicated, but as you develop your abilities you'll eventually find that you can do them all at once and effortlessly. Breathing Breathe in through your nose and draw your breath down into the area just below your navel, allowing your stomach to expand as you breathe (Baby Breath) and filling your lungs entirely with each breath before exhaling through your nose. Breathing is the most important part of meditation and Kundalini Awakening. How to Train Your Brain to Keep You Healthy and Happy When you are unhappy what do you do? Do you go out for a meal? Go to the cinema? The theatre, perhaps? Do you go shopping? Perhaps you like a drink to overcome your unhappiness. Or do you get a buzz from jogging or going to the gym?Whatever it is scientist are in the process of proving that internal change is the only thing that can give you health and happiness. Relax Into Health I'd like to share a little secret about relaxation techniques for athletes (or health-minded people that workout) and anyone that wants to feel more focused, calm, healthy and peaceful.But first, let's define relaxation techniques, or more specifically, meditation. Relaxation Techniques to Revitalize Body and Mind We all get to a stage where we've just had it. We need a break. What Would Plato Think of Prozac? Each person is unique and it is that individuality that we as a whole draw strength from. We should use such advantages to our benefit. Stress: Guilty As Charged How To Defend YourselfDo you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed? Do you sometimes feel like you just have too much to think about? Does it make you tired, irritable, or even depressed? What can you do about it?People rarely go to the doctor to say "I think I have stress," and yet the National Institutes of Health say that 80% of illnesses are caused by stress, directly or indirectly. Hormones, such as adrenalin, are released into your blood when you're stressed. Druids and Meditation It's pretty obvious that the ancient Druids used several forms of meditation. That the Druids were able to still and control their minds is unquestioned, but the techniques they used have apparently been lost to the ravages of time and the lack of written records.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
